10 firefighters injured after accident with pool cleaning chemicals
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Ten firefighters in Bergen County, New Jersey, were hospitalized after being exposed to hazardous pool-cleaning chemicals during a late-night vehicle crash on Route 208 in Fair Lawn.
All were later released, however this incident highlights the hidden dangers of chemical transport in everyday traffic accidents.
- Date/Time: Thursday night, October 16, 2025, around 9 p.m.
- Location: Route 208 northbound, Fair Lawn, Bergen County, NJ.
- Vehicles Involved: A minivan carrying pool-cleaning supplies and another passenger car. The minivan rolled over, trapping its driver inside (FireRescue1 / NJ.com)
Firefighter Exposure
- Responding Units: Firefighters from Glen Rock and Hawthorne.
- Exposure: While extricating the injured driver, six Glen Rock and four Hawthorne firefighters were exposed to hydrochloric acid and other pool chemicals leaking from the overturned van.
- Hospitalization: All ten were transported to local hospitals for evaluation. Hawthorne Fire Chief Joe Speranza emphasized the hospitalizations were precautionary, and all firefighters were released by early Friday (FireRescue1 / NJ.com [1]).
The Chemicals involved
- The minivan contained a “plethora of pool-cleaning chemicals,” including hydrochloric acid (hydrogen chloride), commonly used to lower pH levels and clean pool surfaces.
- According to the CDC, hydrochloric acid is a colorless, corrosive chemical that can cause respiratory irritation, burns, and eye damage if inhaled or contacted at high concentrations (CDC Hazardous Substances Fact Sheet).
Civilian Injuries
- The minivan driver sustained serious injuries and was hospitalized. His condition was not immediately available.
- It was unclear whether the driver of the second vehicle required hospitalization (FireRescue1 / NJ.com [1]; News12 New Jersey [4]).
Additional Coverage & Context
- The Ridgewood Blog reported that the crash triggered a multi-agency hazmat response and even led to secondary collisions as traffic backed up on Route 208. The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Fatal Accident Investigation Unit was called in due to the severity of injuries and a possible impaired driver (Ridgewood Blog).
- News12 New Jersey confirmed that all ten firefighters were later released from the hospital and did not suffer serious injuries (News12 NJ)
Why It Matters
This incident underscores the hazards firefighters face beyond flames. Everyday traffic accidents can conceal toxic chemical exposures, especially when vehicles transport industrial or household chemicals. It also highlights the importance of:
- Hazmat awareness training for first responders.
- Protective equipment during vehicle extrications.
- Public awareness about safe transport of hazardous materials.
Sources
- FireRescue1 / NJ.com – Pool chemicals in N.J. crash send 10 firefighters to hospital
- Ridgewood Blog – Chemical Scare on Route 208: Rollover Crash Hospitalizes 10 Firefighters
- CDC – Hydrogen Chloride (Hydrochloric Acid) Hazardous Substance Fact Sheet
- News12 New Jersey – Firefighters released from hospital after chemical exposure in Fair Lawn crash
Illustrations: From ideas by Bjorn Ulfsson / CTIF, executed by MS CoPilot